Pulsations driven by the ϵ-mechanism in post-merger remnants: First results.

Helium-rich subdwarfs are a rare subclass of hot subdwarf stars which constitute a small and inhomogeneous group showing varying degrees of helium enrichment. Only one star, LS IV °14 116 has been found to show multiperiodic luminosity variations. The variability of LS IV °14 116 has been explained as the consequence of nonradial g-mode oscillations, whose excitation is difficult to understand within the frame of the standard κ-mechanism driving pulsations in sdBV stars. In a recent study, we have proposed that the pulsations of LS IV °14 116 might be driven through the ϵ-mechanism acting in unstable Heburning zones in the interior of the star, that appear before the quiescent He-burning phase. One of the few accepted scenarios for the formation of He-rich subdwarfs is the merger of two He-core white dwarfs. As part of this project, we present a study of the ϵ-mechanism in post-merger remnants, and discuss the results in the light of the pulsations exhibited by LS IV °14 116. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]